HC stays NHRC notice to TN govt

Appearing for the government, Senior Advocate K.T.S Tulsi contended that the NHRC could not interfere in the case and sit on the heads of the court when the matter was sub-judice.

‘‘The police found the absolute and full involvement of Vijayendra Saraswathi in the crime and the so called religious sentiments is not a ground for the NHRC to interfere with the matter,’’ he argued. ‘‘The investigation is an area where the police have got unfettered powers without interference even from the judiciary, leave alone an organisation like the NHRC.’’

Contending that every tenet of the Criminal Procedure Code had been meticulously followed without any human right or fundamental right violation, and without using third degree methods, Tulsi said the investigation team ‘‘had never overstepped its limit’’.

Court rejects senior pontiff’s bail plea

KANCHEEPURAM: The Chengalpattu Sessions court Thursday turned down the bail applications of junior Acharya Vijayendra Saraswathi, his brother Raghu and former Shankara Mutt manager Sunderasa Iyer in the Sankararaman murder case.

‘‘When saints and godmen are under cloud of suspicion, the equality of law and equal protection of law does not vary from person to person. Even Sita had to enter fire to prove her chastity,’’ Judge G.M. Akbar Ali said. And went on to add that ‘‘this court honestly believes that Sita alone can emerge unscathed,’’

The judge also reasoned that the circumstances that attended on the apex court’s decision when it granted bail to the senior pontiff were different now. ‘‘What is of paramount consideration is the status of the petitioner wielding considerable influence as a religious head with reference to the victim and the witnesses. The facts and circumstances of each case will govern the exercise of judicial discretion for granting or refusing bail,’’ he stated in his 10-page order.